Hemming and button sewing modules



United States Patent Orland B. Reid Kenilworth;

Bert G. Feuling, Whippany, New Jersey 857,610

June 26, 1969 l )ivi siT)nof Ser. No. 713,712, Mar. 18, 1968, now Pat.No. 3,482,540.

Dec. 1, 1970 The Singer Company New York, New York a corporation of NewJersey Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee HEMMING AND BUTTONSEWING MODULES 148, 152,141, 142 l 4, i3 6 (Air Digest), (PneumaticDigest), 239

References Cited UNITED STATES PATIENTS 3,156,204 l l/1964 Hamish et all1 [Z Pneumatic Digest 3,204,591 9/1965 Pickett '1'12/1'3'61'1 FOREIGNPATENTS 744,543 10/1966 Canada 112/136 Primary Examiner-H. HamptonHunter Attorneys-Marshall J. Breen, Chester A. Williams, Jr. and

Harold Weinstein ABSTRACT: This disclosure relates to a method andapparatus by which a piece, such as a shirt front, is passed along aprescribed line of feed for hemming and sewing of a plurality of buttonsthereon. The piece is fed tail end first to be hemmed and thereafter thepiece is turned over so that the buttons are sewn successively from thecollar end. In order to accommodate the wide range of both natural andsynthetic materials a holddown means or guide finger may be selectivelyactuated to assist in the hemming operation. Other guiding devices maybe used to aid in the button sewing operation.

Batented Dec. 1, 1970 Shet Y INVENTORS Orland B. Reid Bert G. FeulingATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1,1970 3,543,706

' Sheet 2 of 5 INVENTORS Orland B. Reid WITNESS Berf G. Feuling BY M A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Shet g of 5 INVENTORS Orland 8, Reid Ben G.Feu/ing WITNESS ATTORNEY 3,543,705 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 INVENTORSOrland 8. Reid WITNESS k Ben GFeulinq- O i' y f 'd ran e/ in TNESS BerfG. Feu/ing ATTORNEY HEMMTNG AND BUTTON SEWING MODULES This is a divisionof the Fat. application Ser. No. 713,712, filed March 18, l96 8 and nowU.S. Pat. No. 3,482,540, dated Dec. 9, 1969.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore, whenever ashirt front was to behemmed and have buttons sewn on it, each operation was done separately,whether manually or by remotely located machines. in any event, theshirt fronts were required to be fed, stacked and transported aplurality of times. The more times the shirt fronts were handled in theseparate operations, presumably by different operators, the more likelywas the tendency toward nonuniformity in the finished product. inaddition, repeated handling of the shirt fronts adds to the cost ofproducing the finished pieces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention amechanism and method has been provided whereby a piece is passed along aprescribed line of feed to be successively hemmed and have a pluralityof buttons sewn thereon. The piece is folded prior to hemming thereof,and subsequently turned over whereby the trailing end becomes theleading end.

Thereafter a plurality of buttons are sewn on to the hemmed portion ofthe piece in an indexed sequence.

it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved hemming and button sewing module which ovcrcomes the prior artdisadvantages; which is automatically operated; which is simple,economical, and reliable; which includes one or more guide devices toaid in the automatic operation of the module; which permits the piece tobe initially fed at the tail end for hemming thereof and subsequentlyturned over so as to present the collar end for button sewing in anindexed sequence; which includes feeding means actuated on completion ofthe turning of the piece, and, which has a shutoff device for the modulethat operates whenever the supply of buttons is exhausted.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription of the invention and the novel features will be particularlypointed out hereinafter in the claims.

BRlEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

H6. 1 is a side elevational view of the novel hemming and button sewingmodule;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the improved module;

F K]. 3 is a partial perspective view looking at the front of theimproved module;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the pneumatic holddown meansin a raised position prior to operation thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the pneumatic holddown meansin operative position, yieldably engaging the work supporting surface;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the turningmechanism subsequent to the piece having been turned and prior to themechanism endless belt feeding means becoming operative;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the turningmechanism in its unoperative position and the feeding means passing theturned piece to the button sewer or assembly;

HO. 8 is an enlarged top plan view of the shutoff device in anunoperated position with the associated button clamping jaws shownholding a button therein; in addition, guide means are shown adjacentthe jaws;

H6. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of the shutoff device in operatedposition with the associated button-clamping jaws shown in the positionthey assume in the absence of a button therebetween; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side elevational view of the shutoff device shownin HO. 8; in addition a portion of the upper end and lower guide meansare shown guiding a piece therebetween.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the illustrated embodiment of theinvention the novel hemming and button sewing module, designatedgenerally as 20, is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The module 20 is mounted ona frame 22 and includes a hemmer assembly 24, a transfer assembly 26, afeed assembly 28, a button sewer assembly 30, separate guide assemblies32 and 34 located adjacent the hemmer and button sewer assemblies,respectively, and a separate stacker 36 for collection of the completedpieces. In addition, control boards 38 and 38a have many of theoperator-actuated controls connected in parallel to effect control ofsuitable electric or pneumatic control circuits (not shown) which willact separately or in combination to operate said module 20 in a singlecycle to automatically fold and stitch a hem upon the manually fed piecesuch as a shirt front, and thereafter, transfer and feed the hemmedshirt from to the button sewer wherein a plurality of buttons will beaccurately stitched onto the shirt front, after which the shirt frontwill be automatically collected at the stacker.

The frame 22, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, is made of twointerconnected tables, namely, a hemmer table 40 for the hemmer assembly24, and a transfer table 42 upon which substantially the remainder ofthe module 20 is mounted. The tables 40 and 42 have work supportingsurfaces 4d and 46, respectively. The work supporting surfaces 44 and 46each lie in a horizontal plane with the surface 44 slightly higher thanthe surface 46. A predetermined line of feed 50 extends across the worksupporting surfaces 44 and 46 to generally define the direction alongwhich the shirt fronts will pass. To aid in the travel of the shirtfront an upturned edge 52 is mounted upon the work supporting surface 44downstream of the hemmer assembly 24 and parallel to the line of feed50. An upturned edge 54 is connected to the surface 46 of the transfertable 42 parallel to the line of feed 50 and slightly set back from theupturned edge 52 on the hemmer table 40.

A gap 56 is formed between the two tables 40 and 42 substantiallyperpendicular to the line of feed 50. The gap 56 leads to an enlargedopening 58, the bottom of which is closed by a metal sheet 60 fixedlyconnected to the table 40, and releasably connected to the table 42 by ahooked chain 62.

The button sewer assembly 30 includes a modified space-abutton unit 64that has an automatic button-feeding device 66 associated therewith. Theunit 64 and the device 66 may be of the general type shown and describedin U.S. Pat. No. 3,329,! 10 granted July 4,1967.

Switch 68 operates the pneumatic transmitter 70 of the hemming assembly24, and switch 72 actuates the motor of the space-a-button unit 64. Theswitches 68 and 72 are shown in the on position in FIG. 3. Photoelectriccells 74, 76 and 78 are suitably connected in circuit to initiate andcontrol the operation of the hemming assembly 24, the transfer assembly26 the button sewer assembly 30 of the module 20. In addition aplurality of sequentially operated switches, also in circuit areprovided as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

The operator will load a shirt front 80 into the hem-fold guide 82 thuscovering the light source of the photoelectric cell 74. To initiate theautomatic cycle for the module 20 a cycle-arming button 84 located atthe front control panel 38 is pressed. Since the control panel 38asubstantially duplicates the panel 38, for present purposes only thefront panel 38 need be referred to. However, the actual start of thecycle occurs when a jog button 86 is pressed resulting in the operationof a lockstitch hemmer sewing machine 88, which may be of anyconventional design, as for example, that shown in U.S. Pat. No.2,848,964, granted Aug. 28, 1958.

Associated with the hemfold guide 82 is a guide assembly 32 whichincludes a pneumatic device or 0.8. finger" 90, and

air guides 92 and 94-. The air guide 94 has a transversely disposed tube94a with openings through which air is blown in the downstream directionof the line of feed 50. The air guide 92. is connected to a source ofpressure air connected through operator-actuated switch as to blow airinto the longitudinal opening of the hemmer to assist in preventingunruffling of the shirt front fill therein.

The pneumatic device or QB. finger" 9% is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and5, and is operator actuated by a switch 98. The 0.8. finger" 99 has aline Mil) which will deliver pressurized air from a suitable source tothe upper end of air cylinder 2'92. A frame W4 is connected to thesurface 44 of the table -30 and holds the air cylinder so that thelongitudinal axis thereof is disposed in a vertical line. The aircylinder T62; is disposed in superposition to the shirt front 89 and inspaced relation to the hem-fold guide 82. A rod H36 extends outwardly ofthe lower end of air cylinder 102 with the upper end thereof connectedto a spring-biased piston (not shown) in the conventional manner. Thelower end of rod lllcfr is threaded to receive a pair of jam nuts 163between which a clamped portion llll) of a guide bar H2 is locked. Acontact finger lid bends downwardly and away from the portion llll toextend in the downstream direction of and parallel to the line of feed5. The contact finger may be set at a slight incline so that the endthereof adjacent the portion 110 is at a greater vertical distance fromthe surface 44 than the end remote from the portion ill when the guidebar N12 is in the unoperated position shown in HQ. 4. The guide bar 1312is made of a resilient metal or plastic, so as to yieldably engage thework supporting surface 44, and the contact finger lid will assume ahorizontal position upon said surface, as illustrated in HQ. 5, uponoperation of the air cylinder m2. The amount of pressure exerted by theguide bar llll upon the shirt front fill may be selectively adjusted tosuit the particular material being sewn, and the adjustment may be madein one of three ways. Firstly, since the contact finger ll yieldablyengages the surface 44, raising or lowering of the air cylinder ltlZ towhich the guide bar M2 is attached will result in a respective decreaseor increase of pressure exerted by the guide bar as the movement of rodlll remains constant. The effective vertical position of the aircylinder M92 may be changed by loosening of the screw lid that engagesthe wraparound end of the frame ltll so as to raise or lower the aircylinder ililIZ. Secondly, changing of vertical position of the clampedportion lid of the guide bar lllZ by suitably turning the jam nuts ll3will effect a raising or lowering of the guide bar 1T2 so as to producethe same results as the first adjustment. Thirdly, a pressure regulatorvalve (not shown) may be connected into the line llltl so that thepressure exerted by the guide bar 112 may be directly adjusted.

Once the jog button 86 is pressed and released the sewing machine 68will continue to operate until a predetermined time after the lightsource of the photoelectric cell 74 is uncovered so that as the hem isstitched the shirt front 80 will cover the light source of thephotoelectric cell '76. The sewing machine 88 is timed to stop with theend of the shirt front 80 under the back edge ofa presser foot H8.

The hem-fold guide 82 may be of any type, as for example, one whichmakes a top fold, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The shirt front till is fedinto the hem fold guide 82 tail end first. As the hem is being stitchedby the sewing machine 88 the tail end R2263 passes over the downstreamedge of the work supporting surface 44 to enter the gap 56 in timedrelationship to the operation of an air blowdown tube 122 that directs ablast of air into the gap 56 to insure that the tail end 32d will dropinto the opening 58 and not cross the gap 56 to enter upon the worksupporting surface as. The air blast from blowdown 122 is of shortduration and lasts only long enough to insure that the direction oftravel of the tail end llZll is toward the opening 58.

The operator will load the next piece 80 into the hem-fold guide 82, theloading of which acts to cover the light source of the photoelectriccell 74-, as will the loading of each successive piece 8'0. Theoperator-actuated jog button 36 is pressed and released to start thesewing machine 88 to stitch the hem on the just loaded piece, and eachsucceeding piece thereafter. A. rotary feed T24 is associated with thesewing machine and has a feed wheel 126, positioned downstream of thepresscr foot H8 that operates to pass the pieces fill along the line offeed 5t) simultaneously with the operation of the sewing machine Theoperation of the feed wheel E26 passes the first piece hil sufficientlyalong the line of feed to uncover the light source of the photoelectriccell '76 which acts to operate the impact cutter E28 located immediatelydownstream of the rotary feed 124 as shown in MG. 1. The impact cutterT23 will cut the chain of stitches trailing from the collar end of thepiece 80, thus separating it from the next piece upstream therefrom.

Actuation of the photoelectric cell '76 also sets in motion the clampingmeans llfll) of the transfer assembly 26, best illustrated in FIGS. 6and 7. The clamping means TM is connected to the outer end of a pistonshaft 132 extending from an air cylinder 1 .34, and mounted to a bracket136 for movement in a horizontal plane. The air cylinder 1% has airdelivered to one end or the other thereof for selectively advancing orretracting the clamping means 136). The clamping means is connected tothe bracket 336 on the underside of the work supporting surface 46adjacent the gap 56, and is normally in retracted position as shown inHG. '7. On actuation of the transfer assembly 26 the clamping meanslfill will move across the gap 56 to engage the edge of the table 48/and clamp the down turned piece 8d thereto.

A switch 138 is connected adjacent the edge of the table All and has anactuating finger l lll normally extending into the gap 56 through a slotformed in said edge. On the feed clamp 13f) engaging the edge of thetable M) the finger Mil will be shifted to actuate the air cylinder T42which carries a transfer arm Md on the outer end of the shaft thereof.The transfer arm lld l extends over one side of the table 42, incantilevered fashion, in the direction of the upturned edge 54. Thetransfer arm M4 is substantially perpendicular to the line of feed 5%and is disposed with the horizontal feed portion thereof in abutmentwith and at a height substantially equal to the work supporting surfaceat the downstream edge thereof. The horizontal feed portion of thetransfer arm 44 is normally disposed slightly above the work supportingsurface 46 to permit its passing thereover. A vertical portion of thetransfer arm M4 extends upwardly from its connection with the shaft ofthe air cylinder 42 and has connected intermediate thereto a carriageframe T46 journaled for sliding upon a fixed bar support 143.

The hemmed piece till, illustrated in H6. 1, has passed over thedownstream edge of the table 4% and the transfer arm into the opening53. After actuation of the photoelectric cell 76 the hemmed piece (illas shown in H6. 6 will be clamped by the clamping means against thedownstream edge of the table 40. On actuation of the air cylinder M2 bythe operation of the switch 138 the transfer arm will be drawn from itsnormal gap edge position to travel in the downstream direction of theline of feed 50, and thus, across the work supporting surface 46. Thehorizontal feed portion of the transfer arm led travels in a horizontalplane and as it passes, the piece fill, held adjacent the tail end 1%thereof by the clamping means Hill, is drawn upon the work supportingsurface 46 with the collar end now on the downstream side of the line offeed 5Q in effect, the piece 80 has been turned over so that the tailend T20 which was the leading end is now the trailing end, and thetop-folded portion that was hem stitched by the sewing machine 88 nowlies as an underfold adjacent the upturned edge 54. An extension bar 152is mounted on the carriage frame 146 to activate a switch ll54 shown inHG. 2, at the downstream end of the travel of the transfer arm 144 asillustrated in F IG. 6.

Actuation of the switch i534 causes a normally upwardly spring-biasedplunger 156 to be driven downwardly against the surface to clamp theshirt front 8i against said surface.

The travel of the transfer arm 144 will bring it in line with theplunger 156 but the horizontal feed portion of arm 144 is recessed, asshown in FIG. 2, near its outer end to permit the plunger 156 to contactthe surface 46 by passing through said recess. The actuation of theswitch 154 also will effect the restoration of the clamping means 130and the transfer arm 144- to their respective unoperated positions asillustrated in FIG. 7. The clamping means 130, the transfer arm 144, theplunger 156 and the associated mechanisms and actuation elements thereofcoact to define a transfer assembly 26.

The actuation of the switch 154 will initiate the operation of thefeeding assembly 28, and a plurality of air jets 158 having nozzle means160 disposed parallel to the line of feed 50 in spaced relationship toeach other to direct air along the surface 46 in the downstreamdirection of the line of feed 50.

The feeding assembly 28, illustrated in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, includes asupport bracket 162 having an arm 164 which carries a switch 166 at oneend thereof and an air cylinder 168 at the other end thereof. A beltdrive frame 170 carries a drive shaft 172 suitably journaled in supportbracket 162 and connected to be driven by a suitable drive means (notshown) rendered operational upon the actuation of the switch A pulley114 is mounted within the frame 170 upon the shaft 172 and is connectedby an endless belt 176 to an idler pulley 178 disposed at the oppositeend of the belt drive frame 170. The endless belt 176 extends outwardlyfrom the open bottom of the frame 170. The drive shaft 172 and theassociated endless belt 176 will rotate in a clockwise direction so thatupon engagement with the surface 46 the shirt front will be fed alongthe line of feed 50in a downstream direction. The drive frame 170 ispivotable about the axis of the drive shaft 172, and carries an upwardlybent plate 180 at the pivotable end thereof. The feed assembly asillustrated in FIG. 6, is normally in a substantially horizontalposition which position is maintained by air being continuouslydischarged from a nozzle 182 to blow against the bent-free end of theplate 100 thereby preventing the unsupported end of the frame 170 fromdropping onto the surface 46. When the switch 154 is actuated the driveshaft 172 begins to rotate but the frame 170 does not pivot as air willcontinue to be discharged through the nozzle 102 of the air tube 168 fora few seconds until a delayed shutoff (not shown) operates. Thus, theendless feed belt 176 remains out of contact with the surface 46 untilthe air supply is shut off at which time the frame 170 will pivotcounterclockwise to swing the free end and belt 176 against the surface46 and begin to feed the shirt front 80 in the direction of the buttonsewer assembly 30. Upon the free end of the frame 170 being swungdownwardly the plate 100 will be shifted to a position substantiallyvertically above the axis of the drive shaft 172, thus, forcing thenozzle 182 into the air cylinder 168 and, also, actuating the switch166. Actuation of the switch 166 will cut off the air supply to theplunger 166 and result in its being restored to a raised position, asshown in FIG. 7.

The air jets 160 will aid the endless feed belt 176 in moving the shirtfront 80 along the line of feed 50 and help guide the piece to thebutton sewer assembly 30 until the light source of the photoelectriccell 78 is covered to affect raising and stopping of the feed assembly28 and a shutoff of the air being supplied to the air jets 160. Thephotoelectric cell 78, as shown in the FIG. 1, is positioned slightlyupstream of a button sewer machine 190, which machine may be of anyconventional design, as for example, that shown in US. Pat. No.2,009,560, granted July 30, I935.

The button sewer machine 190 includes a button-clamping mechanism,designated generally 192, which mechanism will be shown and describedgenerally in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, with the subject matter thereof depictedin detail only insofar as it relates to the present invention. For amore detailed descrip tion and understanding of the button-clampingmechanism 192 reference may be had to US. Pat. No. 2,509,619, grantedMay 30, 1950, which shows one type ofa conventional design thereof.

In addition, the photoelectric cell 78 will actuate a bar clamp 196 ofthe space-a-button unit 64 which acts to clamp the collar end 150 of theshirt front against the drum 196 which drum thereafter is indexed to thefirst button position by turning through a predetermined distance in acounterclockwise direction, resulting in the actuation of a switch 108mounted to the frame 22 adjacent the drum 196 that is normally held in adeactivated position by a cam 200 mounted on the rotary portion of thedrum 196, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The actuation of the switch190 effects a shutoff of the air supply to an air cylinder 202 whichnormally holds a plow guide 20 1 in a raised position. The plow guide204 has a counterbalanced plow arm 210 raisable by the air cylinder 202and lowered by gravity upon being released from its raised position. Aloosely connected plow member 212 is mounted at the end of the arm 210adjacent the sewing machine 100, and is inclined in the downstreamdirection ofthe line of feed 50.

A height guide member 208, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 10 is pivotallyconnected to the upturned edge 54 at the downstream end thereof by ashoulder screw 214. so as to per mit the passage of various thicknessesof the shirt fronts 80 thereunder. The height guide member 208 has avertical leg 216 and a horizontal leg 210 that is disposed under andslightly behind the jaws 220 of the button-clamping mechanism 192. Thelegs 216 and 218 extend from a tapered portion 222 that'rises upwardlytoward the pivotable connection of the height guide member 208. Thevertical leg 216 serves as an extension of the upturned edge 54, and thehorizontal leg 218 though vertically shiftable limits the height of theshirt front 80. Member 208 serves to flatten the shirt front 80 so thata button transfer arm 224 can pass over the shirt from 80 and under thejaws 220 to deliver a button 226 that is subsequently seized by the jaws220 without interference from the shirt front 80.

The upper guide, designated generally as 230. includes either the plowguide 204, or the height guide member 208, or both.

A lower guide, designated generally as 232, coacts with the upper guide230 for positioning and guiding each of the successive shirt fronts 80,and combines therewith to define the guide assembly 34.

The lower guide 232 includes a horizontal plate 206 illustrated in FIGS.2, 9 and 10, that has a cutaway leading edge that extends over thedownstream edge ofthe transfer table 42 onto the drum 196 of thespace-a-button unit 64. The guide plate 206 has a straight edge 234,spaced from the vertical upturned edge 54 and disposed parallel to theline of feed 50. The guide plate 206 is connected in a slot in thetransfer table 42 and suitably attached to the underside thereof so thatthe main portion of the guide plate extends along the surface 46 to forman extra thickness on the surface 4-6 of the table 42. The distance fromthe vertical edge 54 to the straight edge 234 is predetermined to beequal to or slightly larger than the width of the hem on the shirt front80 so that the underfold thereof will lie between the vertical edge 54and the straight edge 234. In other words, there is a guide channel 236formed between upturned edge 54 and the straight edge 234 into which theunderfold of the shirt front 80 enters as it is delivered along the lineof feed 50 by the feeding assembly 28, and the associated air jets 160.

Once the underfold is in the guide channel 236, the shirt front ispositively restrained against possible misalinement prior to delivery tothe button sewer assembly 30. To facilitate the entrance of theunderfold at the collar end of the shirt front 80 into the channel 236both the plow guide 204 and the height guide member 208 are providedwith funnellike inlets. The guide plate 206 does not interfere withfeeding the shirt front 80 to the button sewer assembly 30, andcooperates with the upper guides 230, particularly, the plow guide 204and to a somewhat lesser extent the height guide member 208, each ofwhich lightly press upon the shirt front 80 to aid in keeping theunderfold thereof in the channel 236.

Once the bar clamp 1% seizes the collar end 150 of the shirt front 80the drum 196 indexes the shirt front ill) into the first buttonposition. The usual shirt from till will have five equally spacedbuttons sewn thereon in the manner substantially set forth in U.S. Pat.No. 3,329,l 10.

The actuation of the photoelectric cell 78 will effect shutoff of theair jets 160, and stopping of the drive motor rotating the shaft 172 andthe endless belt 176, and reactivate the nozzle 182 of the air cylinder168 to raise the belt drive frame 159 to its horizontal unoperativeposition, as shown in HG. s. The drum 196 will automatically be indexedthrough the five successive button-sewing operations, having the buttonsautomatically furnished from the button reserve of the buttonfeedingdevice 66 and fed to the button-clamping jaws 220 to be successivelysewn onto the shirt from 80 by the automatic operation of the buttonsewer machine 39h.

A suitable time delay is provided in the circuit of the module 20 topermit actuation of a safety shutoff device 250 which is set off as aresult of there being no button between the jaws 22f) so that said jawsclose beyond the point of normal clamping. The clamping jaws 220 areconnected by suitable linkage means 252 which are operable by means (notshown) which open the jaws 220 prior to seizing the button, and releasethe same to permit clamping of the button 226 for the sewing operation,and thereafter, release the sewn button 226. An arm 254 is connected tothe linkage means 252 for movement perpendicular to the line of feed Si)in conjunction with the opening and the closing of the button-clampingjaws 22%. The free end of the arm 254- is bent vertically upwardly andpositioned behind a switch 256 having a switching element 258 facing thevertical portion of the arm 254, as illustrated in H68. 2%, 9 and 10.Opening of the jaws 220 results in the arm 254 moving in the directionaway from the switch 256, and closing of the jaws 220 causes the arm 254to move toward the switch 256. The distance of travel of arm 25 5 is setso that upon the jaws 22h closing upon the button 226 the verticalportion of the arm 25% remains out of contact with the switching element25%. The switch 256 is connected in circuit in a normally closedposition which allows the automatic cycling of the module 2t). However,upon the clamping jaws 220 closing with no button present, the verticalportion of the arm 254 will engage the switching element 253 to actuatcthe switch 256 which acts to open the circuit of the module 2Q,resulting in a shut down of the module 20. The absence of a button inthe jaws 220 indicates a malfunction or an exhaustion of the supplythereof, and in any event, will signal the operator to investigate andcorrect the cause of the shutdown.

There is a predetermined time delay between the buttonfeeding device 66being signaled to feed a button 226, via the button transfer arm 224, tothe clamps 220, and the operation of the button sewer machine 1% so thatbefore the operation of said machine commences the time elapsed wouldpermit the safety setoff device 250 to have operated. If a button 226 ispresent in the jaws 220 the cycle of the module continues uninterrupted.However, if no button is present the jaws 220 will close to activate theswitch 256, and thus, shut down the module 2% before the operation ofthe button sewer machine 190 commences.

The space-a-button unit 6 will control the sewing operation of thebuttons upon the shirt front 80. At After the last button is sewn theshirt front will automatically be delivered to the stacker 36 forcollection therein in a suitable manner well known in the art Theoperation ofthe stacker is initiated by a cam 260 mounted upon the drumwe in line with a switch (not Shown) that controls the stacker motor262. The cam is normally out of engagement with the switch and uponrotation of the drum to the position of the last button to be sewn thecam will engage the switch to effect the operation of the stacker motor262. Prior to this and in order to assure proper delivery of the shirtfront to the stacker $6 an elongated earn 264, mounted adjacent andinwardly to the earn 266. will engage a switch (not shown) to effect thedelivery of air to a stationar tube 266 positioned to pneumaticallyassist in the shirt front t being transferred off the rotary drum 1%onto the stacker 36.

As the completed shirt front is stacked the light source of thephotoelectric cell 78 is uncovered and the drum A d continues to rotateuntil it returns to its start position where it will stop.

Upon the completion of the stacking operation the motor 262 is shut offby a switch (not shown). Return of the drum 1% to its starting positionresults in the cum 2% engaging the switch 198 to effect operation of theair cylinder 2% and cause the plow guide 264 to be raised above thesurface 4t). Hence, the button sewer assembly 30 is in position for thestart of a new cycle.

Suitable manual controls, are illustrated in HQ. 3 at the control panel38, such as a stop button 27ft, a raise-feed button 272 for the feedingassembly 228, a control button 274 for the button-feeding device 66 topermit the feeding of single buttons, and a control switch 276 which maybe set selectively for either manual feeding or automatic feeding of thebuttons from the button-feeding devices 66.

Furthermore the control board 38a, shown in HQ. l, may include a poweron light Zt'ill which indicates when the module 20 has been turned on,and a light 2%2 which operates to automatically signal a malfunctionrelated to the button sewer or when no buttons are present in the buttonreserve of the button-feeding device 66. Suitable additional controlsand switches are, or may be, provided to insure the automatic operationof the hemming and button-sewing module 26 as set forth hereinbefore.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials,arrangements of parts and operating conditions which have been hereindescribed and illustrated in order to explain the nature of theinvention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principlesand scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

We claim:

3. A pneumatic device for a sewing machine to prevent unruffling of apiece being fed along the work supporting surface of the machine in aprescribed line of feed, said device comprising:

a. a frame connected to the sewing machine;

b. an air cylinder supported by the frame;

c. a source of pressure air;

(1. line means connected between the air cylinder and the source ofpressure;

e. valve means disposed in the line means in a normally closed positionand adapted to be selectively opened to operate the air cylinder; and

f. a guide means in the form ofa resilient finger, a portion of which isconnected to the air cylinder in superposition to the work supportingsurface in a normally raised position. and, a work contacting fingerportion, adapted on opening of the valve means to yieldably press thepiece against the work supporting surface.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein, the valve means includingpressure regulating means to regulate the pressure of the air passingtherethrough from said source to a the air cylinder whereby the forceexerted by the guide means may be selectively controlled.

3. The combination claimed in claim l wherein the contact finger portionextends substantially parallel to the line of feed.

4. The combination claimed in claim 3 wherein the connected portion ofthe guide means is vertically adjustable and selectively positioned toobtain a predetermined pressure of the contact finger against the worksupporting surface.

